There Goes My Heart (The Sullivans #20) - Bella Andre Page 0,69

siblings about his feelings. But Zara had opened him up in more ways than one. “For so long, I told myself that I couldn’t stop thinking about her because of how annoying it was when she whistled cheesy pop songs off-key, or left half-finished cups of coffee all over the warehouse, or argued with every word out of my mouth.” He shook his head at what an idiot he’d been. “Turns out I was just as blind a fool as you, Lola, and Cassie always say I am.”

“You’re not that bad,” his sister teased. But then she grew serious again. “I really am happy for you, Rory. And selfishly, it gives me hope. Because if you can find real love after what you went through, then maybe I can too, one day.”

“You made a mistake and trusted the wrong person, Ash. But you can’t beat yourself up for it forever. I’m absolutely positive that Prince Charming is out there for you.”

“I’m not looking for a hero—a nice, normal guy would be just fine. Although I probably wouldn’t kick the actor who plays Thor out of my bed for eating crackers.”

“That is not the kind of picture a guy needs his sister to put in his head,” he grumbled.

“You’re welcome,” she said with a laugh. “And thanks. I never thought I’d be coming to you for advice about love, but you’re actually pretty good at giving it.”

“Pretty ironic considering that just a couple of days ago, I was planning to ask you for suggestions on how to woo Zara.”

“Really?” Ashley’s eyes grew big. “Not only did I not think I’d ever see you all mushy and turned inside-out over a woman—but now you’re telling me you almost asked me for my advice rather than barking at me like a know-it-all. Wonders truly will never cease.” She still looked a little stunned as she said, “Well, if you ever do need my advice, you know where to find me.”

“Sounds like you think I’m going to screw things up.” The slightly aggressive words were out of his mouth before he realized they were coming.

She looked at him as though he were crazy. “Of course that’s not what I’m saying.”

“Sorry, Ash. I don’t know where that came from. Forget it.”

But she knew him well enough not to let it go just yet. “If you’re secretly worried that you’re going to make a wrong step and lose Zara—you’re wrong. The one thing I know for sure about you is that when you love someone, even if you do mess things up for a little while, you always work to find a way to fix it.” She looked around his woodshop at the intricate, detailed projects he’d completed, even the ones that had seemed impossible at first. “If anyone has the determination not to give up, it’s you.”

Kevin ran over, beaming from ear to ear. “Dad was mega impressed with my magic trick!”

“Of course he was.” Ashley smiled at her son as she slipped her phone back into her pocket. “What else did you guys talk about?” Rory could hear the wariness in her voice, though she was doing her best to disguise it.

“Stuff,” Kevin said with a shrug. He turned to Rory. “Hey, can you show me how to use the lathe again? We’re making a birdhouse at school, and my teacher said if I know how to use the lathe, I can be in charge of turning the dowel for the perch of the birdhouse.”

“Sure.” While Rory worked with his nephew, Ashley went over to the couch to send increasingly agitated texts, her mouth pinched and her eyes narrowed as she glared at the screen. She looked like that only when she was dealing with Kevin’s father.

“Everything okay?” he called over to her.

She smiled and nodded, but he knew it was entirely for her son’s benefit. When it came to Kevin’s dad, nothing was ever truly okay. Rory wished there was something he could do to help, but unfortunately, rearranging the guy’s face with his fists wouldn’t help either Kevin or Ashley.

“Okay,” she said forty-five minutes later. “It’s time for us to head home and get homework done. Thanks for letting us barge in.”

“Anytime,” he said, meaning it. “See you guys Friday night.”

Which reminded him—he needed Zara’s confirmation that she would come to family dinner with him. No doubt they were all dying to know her better.

Once Ashley and Kevin left, he took the sheet off the hope chest and poured everything he felt